Here’s the thing about Laurie Metcalf: she’s not just some run-of-the-mill actress. With three Emmys, a Tony, and now Oscar buzz for her incredible performance in Lady Bird, she’s clearly one of the hardest-working moms in showbiz. And you know what? She owes a lot of her drive to her four kids. In an exclusive chat with Closer Weekly, Laurie dishes on how her family keeps her grounded while her career continues to soar.
“Let me tell you, I’ve been incredibly lucky,” Laurie says. “I’ve had the chance to work in theater, film, and TV. Every time I switch it up, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Acting has always been my passion, but it’s my kids who keep me moving forward.”
A Career Spanning Decades
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Right now, Laurie’s being hailed as a front-runner for the Oscars, thanks to her incredible portrayal of a mom dealing with an empty nest in Lady Bird. This role hit close to home for Laurie. “I totally get it because I was going through the exact same thing with my 16-year-old son, Donovan, at the time,” Laurie explains. “It was like a freight train hitting me — all the arguments, the misunderstandings, and the emotional rollercoaster.”
Family First
While Laurie has two older kids, Zoe (33) and Will (23), she admits that their teenage years were relatively smooth. But with Donovan, things got a little more complicated. “There’s something about that age,” Laurie says. “It’s like a perfect storm of hormones and growing pains. You just have to ride it out and hope for the best.”
And speaking of family, Zoe has followed in her mom’s footsteps, playing the younger version of Laurie’s character — Jim Parsons’ mom — on The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Young Sheldon. “I didn’t want her to go into acting when she was younger because I knew how stressful it could be,” Laurie reveals. “But once she got to college, she fell head-over-heels for it. It’s been amazing to see her grow into her own career.”
Back to the Beginning
Laurie also shares her thoughts on returning to her iconic role as Jackie on Roseanne after all these years. “It’s wild,” she says. “It feels like no time has passed at all. We really became a family on that show, and I guess that bond never left us. It’s like slipping back into an old pair of shoes.”
For more of Laurie’s story, grab the latest issue of Closer Weekly, available now — and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive updates!
